Bus Driver Takes Cane - A School in North Kansas has come under fire after news broke that a bus driver seized a blind boy's cane as a way to punish him for misbehaving.
According to reports, eight-year-old Dakota Nafzinger, who is a pupil of Gracemor Elementary School, had his cane seized and replaced with a green swimming pool noodle, which he was supposed to use for two weeks.
"Why would you do that? Why would you take the one thing that he's supposed to use all the time?" asks Rachel Nafzinger, his mother. "That's his eyes."
Michelle Cronk, a North Kansas City School District spokeswoman, said the school only took the cane away from Dakota on Monday after he hit another child with it. Cronk said the cane, which the bus driver seized from Dakota, belonged to the school. The cane was given to Dakota after he was enrolled.
"They said they were going to give me this [pool noodle] for the next two weeks," Dakota said.
When asked why official gave Dakota a pool noodle instead of his cane, Cronk answered saying that the boy was moving restlessly and needed something to hold on to.
However, his family is upset with punishment, which they say doesn't match the offence he reportedly committed. Rachel confirms that Dakota received a write-up for his misconduct on the bus.
"I just don't like someone else putting my son in that position," Rachel says." He's gone through so much in his life already."
Donald Nafzinger, Dakota's father, said his son is a good boy and was never violent. He claims that although he moved his cane around, he would never intentionally hit another student with it.
"All around he's a good little guy, and he shouldn't be treated the way he's being treated," Donald said.
Dakota says he needs his cane and can hardly get by with the green swimming pool noodle he was given.
"It's a lot harder with this," Dakota said. "I Can't feel things,"
Dakota was born without eyes - a condition known as Bilateral Anopthalmia. He loves fishing ad swimming. Despite being blind, he plays like others kids his age.
On Wednesday, the North Kansas City School District issued a statement concerning Dakota's case.
"The District has reviewed the situation. We regret that a mistake was made in making sure the student was in possession of his cane when he boarded the bus Monday evening," it read. "The District has apologized to the family and is working to rectify the situation."
Reports indicate that on Wednesday morning school authorities paid the Nafzingers an unexpected visit. They returned the cane and apologized for taking the cane away from Dakota.
Rachel was ecstatic and thanked media houses and especially social media, where the news of Dakota's case went viral. "It's spread like wildfire, and it's all for my son, and so he got what he wanted and hopefully more, so thank you..thank you to everybody."
